By the conclusion of the 1960s, Jamaican music evolved under the influence of traditional African and Caribbean sounds, American R&B, and primarily ska and rocksteady, leading to the emergence of reggae, a genre that would characterise a generation.
Starting in 1968, early reggae became incorporated into Jamaican popular music alongside dub and toasting. Although reggae, dub, and toasting are separate styles, they possess significant connections. Dub entails remixing existing songs for the deejay to ‘toast’ over, while toasting itself is a precursor to rapping that captivates the audience.
A vital element of Jamaican music and its industry is the idea of the riddim, which denotes the specific drum and bass rhythm of a track and the rhythm section used by deejays for toasting or producing new versions. The absence of copyright laws in Jamaica until 1993, combined with the rapid production of these versions, permitted one riddim to be employed across many songs, promoting the swift dissemination of Jamaican music.
This course explores the work of some of the most notable reggae artists from the early ’70s to the mid-’80s, featuring examples in the style of several highly “versioned” riddims.
Course Content
Early Reggae
Course Includes
- 7 Lessons
- 12 Exercises
